Chapter 27 — “The Lord is My Shepherd”

Chapter 27 — “The Lord is My Shepherd”

The midnight’s atmosphere at Tokyo usually segregated by its district. In residential areas, it’s usually quiet and peaceful — perfect for a restful sleep. In the red-light district, people are still enjoying themselves with the whole atmosphere — especially outside the bars and night clubs. Men and women are sprawling out, getting drunk, and keep up the festivity around the blocks. Once in a while, the people of Tokyo may even witness a street race between regulars — blitzing across the metropolitan.

That is Tokyo — where everyone can enjoy themselves — whether it was to rest, to play, to get wasted, or to gamble. There are always a perfect place for the perfect occassion. Except for tonight. Tonight, was a confusing night for Tokyo. Tonight, for the first time in such a long time, they are united by the same atmosphere; confusion, dread, and restlessness.

One sound rule the entire city, and that is the police sirens deafening all other noises. One vehicle rules the road — the police and SCF sedans and trucks. The red and blue light brighten up the whole city. No matter where you are, the road’s atmosphere is the same — chaotic.

Everyone watches; office workers, drunkards, couples — all of them are wearing the same expression across their face. Their mouth is agape, and their ears served with the deafening sirens. They disperses across the city like ants, looking for the one which has the potential to end the SCF — to end the entire world.

“Update, Yamamoto-sama. The search team has found no one at the Kuzumi’s Agency known address.” A man put down his phone. He brought the information to Katsuo, who has been tapping his fingers to his armrest.

“…Contact the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Tell him we need a direct line to all the international military leaders. Create an emergency forum with the all delegates from all SCF’s international branch. Tell them it’s for ‘Solution A’,”

“It will be done, Yamamoto-sama”

A conversation raises from one of the militant sedan cruising through the bright lanes of Ginza, along with a convoy of armoured trucks. The leader of the SCF group held his head, wrapped in bandage as he monitors the sidewalks.

“You should get a bit rest. Your injury hasn’t gotten better.” The man next to him said.

“How could I, when SCF’s integrity itself is threatened?” Katsuo sighs, “If we were fail to do execute the OO, then what would the public say? It would be the end of the SCF’s public trust and cut the line of incomes… And frankly — it will be the end of the world.”

“I understand. I will work harder for the sake of the future as you do.” The determined man next to him raises his phone to his ear, awaiting for a response at his end.

“Has Todachi-san finishes with his errand?” He asked.

“…He was the eyes for the Kuzumi Agency for so long — he must developed some kind of attachment, even in the slightest. Let him takes his time. He took a tough decision, and kept his loyalty. If he wants to honour his ex-partner for the last time, then I wouldn’t mind if he opts out from the mission.”

“But Yamamoto-sama, at time like — ah, Hello —?” The aide beside him got through with his phone call, and started to do his work. Katsuo keeps on watching the sidelines — the expression of the people wearing. And in a glimpse, he saw what seems to be her late wife, cheering for him like she always did when he was campaigning. Cheering for his victory.

“…I guess I’ve got a little bit emotional today.” He mumbled

Katsuo’s phone rings, vibrating in his pocket. He takes it out, seeing the contact’s name written in his phone. The Minister of Defence. He accepted it, putting it next to his ear.

“Yes, Minister-san… I see, thank you very much… Yes, The JSDF will be a huge help for our mission… If that’s the case, then I want checkpoints encircling Tokyo…road, trains, air, all of them, sir… Yes. Isolating Tokyo and its neighbouring cities will certainly help us reduce the area of search to deduce the Candidate’s location…Yes, stay safe, sir.”

A throb in his head puts his hand on his forehead reflexively as he’s about to end his call. But he keeps his cool. His facial expression hasn’t changed a single bit — though the sharp sting felt like it punctured his skull. He has to keep his image. To keep his calm. His underlings look up to him, and at time like this — and always — he mustn’t look weak.

He diverted his face from his aide, looking toward the outside from the car’s window. The sedan passes the famous intersection, as Katsuo stares into the void road. Then, from the end of the line — a blue lighting flashes.

It cut through the convoy, through the armoured sedan — splitting it right in the middle. Katsuo and the aide stares at each other as the sedan breaks into a perfect half — the front and the back. He takes off the seatbelt, and let himself out.

His eyes are peeled out. At the end of the endless roads, is the black haired lady he sworn buried.

“…I’m sending my coordinate. Requesting backup.” Katsuo hangs up the phone, meeting eye-to-eye with the perpetrator. Next to her, is a wolf two times her size, covered in blue lighting.

“…I see you’ve tricked us, Shem the Illusionist” It takes no time for Katsuo to figure the mystery of the walking dead, “So he died at your stead…”

“That is true. Noah of The Ark — an Arkus, has been slain by the organisation sworn to protect them,” Shem’s tone is concise and bold — same as her late father.

“…and you wasted his sacrifice — for what? ”

Gunmen have taken their position, surrounding the Sera-class. Sounds of sirens are getting louder and louder, coming closer toward the intersection.

“I thought I need to fetch my sister here, but it seems like my concern is for nothing…so now, I’m here to fulfil my father’s final request.”

“To complete your vengeance?” Katsuo taunted,

“…To protect the weak.”

“Weak?” A chuckle came out from his old mouth, “That girl is anything but weak now — you know it well. She is a threat to the world.”

“You said that as if you’ve known her.” Shem closes her eyes, recalling her short encounter, “She puts out a strong front, but she’s frail inside. She’s confident in all of her actions, but doubting every course of her life. She’s the strongest — no one can matches her, yet she hardly understands herself… I think you know a woman similar to her very well, don’t you Yamamoto-san?” Shem’s sinister smirk enough to stagger the old Katsuo.

“I think that’s enough conversation…Like you said, I don’t know her. But she’s still a threat to the world. Like you are to us…”

Heavy war vehicles can be heard advancing toward Shem. Tanks, helicopters, and more armoured trucks start to press Shem from every sides.

“Give up, and we may give you a quick death.”

Shem observes her adversaries. There are no escape routes, nor any openings. She sighs, reaching to her handbag.

“This isn’t ideal…but what can I do? There are but so many of torii gate in Tokyo, and there is but so little time to cut you off…” Shem pulls out her black book from her handbag, as she snaps her fingers with her other hands. From the places where eyes fails to notice, army of creatures appears, prancing toward the intersection,

“Oni, Raiju, Me kara Hikari, Tamamo-no-mae, Itsumade, Mikari Baba, and of course — your favourite Ichimokuren,” Blood drips from Shem’s nose, as she tries to wipes it away, “…more to come as well.”

“You’re pushing yourself,” Katsuo studies her erratic behaviour, “Are you sure you’re strong enough to handle the entire prefecture forces?”

“…No, I don’t — ” Shem chuckled, “— It may seem unrelated, but I found an interesting passage in this book. I don’t know why, but it gives me… a little bit more strength.”

Katsuo observes the book on Shem’s hand, “Isn’t that book goes against what your power does? Heresy, in a sense?”

Shem shrugged, “It’s only a book for reference, anyway,”

“Then chant your final rite, and face your delayed death.” Katsuo growled.

The army of the combined alliance of SCF and the Japanese Self-Defence Force holds their weapons higher, ready to engage the army of darkness. With a smile, she approached the opposition with a confident pace, along with her assembled army. Shem’s fingers traced her book, finding the passage. And she found it — reading it out loud to her enemies while the sound of gunfire breaks the silence —

“

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

A Psalm of David.
—

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